MADISONVILLE – Marshall County got itself back on the winning track and closed out regular-season fast-pitch softball play with a 12-5 victory over Hopkins County Central Saturday.

The win sends the 16-10 Lady Marshals into the District 4 tournament on a high note.

The Lady Marshals are assured of a berth in the district championship game and advancement to the Region 1 tourney at home next week.

An offensive barrage of 20 base hits, including five for extra bases, powered the victory. Toni Fehrenbacher picked up her 16th win, limiting Central to eight hits.

Marshall County jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning and added another run in the second before the Lady Storm cut the advantage in half with two runs in the bottom of the second.

Two more multiple-run inning in the fifth and sixth made it 9-2.

After Central got two more runs in the bottom of the sixth, the Lady Marshals tacked on three more runs in the seventh.

Eighth-grade outfielder Bailey Murphy belted a triple and a double in a 2-for-3 performance.

Buzz Ray also had a triple and Mallory Young and Chaney Stearns added doubles to the attack.

Young, Ray, Abby Fiessinger and Lexee Miller had three hits apiece.

It was the second straight loss, but only the third in the last 12 games for the 22-11 Lady Storm.

The one game in the final week of the regular season put the Lady Marshals back on the winning track after they lost three of five games in the Christian County tournament and a 5-1 decision at Lone Oak the week before.

The district tournament will be a one-day affair at Murray Wednesday. Marshall County, the top seed, will meet the winner of the Murray-Calloway County game in the championship at 7:30 p.m.

Both championship round teams will advance to the Region 1 tournament next week at Marshall County.